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Recently, I had dinner with some friends at a restaurant in Sheung Wan. While we ate, we talked about dating, couples living together and marriage. It was a very difficult topic for us - I think even the experts do not really know what love is.

One of my friends said nothing lasts forever - not even marriage. She said a couple could divorce if they did not love each other anymore.

According to the dictionary, 'love' means a feeling of deep affection for someone. It is something we can't see, smell, taste or touch. But we feel it in our hearts.

I believe in love. True love is the source of life. No one can live without it. It's what promise and responsibility is all about.

Only those who love and care about you will stick to their promises. People who don't love you will say 'goodbye' during difficult times.

You should trust the person you love, and always believe in the power of love.

Tang Wai-man, The Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education

No hiding place for school bullies

I am writing about the serious problem of bullying in Hong Kong schools. Some time ago, a video posted online showed a group of students harassing another pupil.

They kicked and teased him. In the end, they left him bleeding on the ground. This incident shocked the public at the time, but now bullying is no longer in the news.

We have to remember that school bullies are still targeting innocent victims. And we have to take action against the culprits.

Research shows that half of Hong Kong students have bullied their schoolmates. It also found that most of them had witnessed bullying at school, with one-third choosing not to help the victim.

Schools should teach students moral values and the importance of doing the right thing. They should provide counselling services to the victims and inform their families.

Parents should pay more attention to their children, and co-operation between school and home should be strengthened.

If we ignore bullying, other social problems will emerge. The victims could suffer from depression and low self-esteem, and both bullies and their victims could likely engage in criminal activities later in life.

The whole community should face up to this problem and make schools safe for children.

Jollie Lam, St Paul's Secondary School

Use money wisely

The mainland is using celebrities to promote its image. I think too much money is being wasted on these advertisements.

The money can be used more wisely. For example, the government could help desperate parents find their kidnapped children. The police could offer rewards for information on the missing children.

The authorities could also use the money to raise the living standards of the poor.

China does not need to promote itself. It's wasting a lot of money which could mean so much to the needy.

Ruby Leung, Maryknoll Convent School

Save energy and protect our planet

We should replace incandescent bulbs with the energy-efficient compact fluorescent lights (CFLs). CFLs use 75 per cent less electricity than incandescent bulbs and last much longer. Saving energy is important in protecting our planet.

On the downside, CFLs are expensive and contain a small amount of mercury. This chemical poses a health hazard when the bulb is broken.

There's another problem - when CFLs are thrown out, the toxic materials from the bulbs will be released into landfills. Stray cats or dogs who scramble for food from landfills could die.

I believe the government should set up recycling bins for CFLs. Then the mercury could be reused, reducing the amount of toxic materials in landfills.

Non-toxic light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are also a good alternative. We should use LED lights wherever possible. Some billboards in Hong Kong are powered by LEDs. LED lighting should be more widely used as it's environmentally friendly.